Fallen trooper honored at tree dedication in Cinnaminson

The late NJ State Trooper Sean Cullen was honored at a tree dedication ceremony on Tuesday at the Cinnaminson Post Office.
Celeste E. Whittaker/Staff Photographer

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Late Trooper Sean Cullen's father Eamonn Cullen and mother Deirdre A. Cullen hold grandson Seamus during a tree dedication ceremony at the Cinnaminson Post Office for their son. Cullen died in March of 2016 after being fatally struck by a vehicle on Interstate 295 after responding to a car fire.(Photo: Jose F. Moreno/Staff Photographer)Buy Photo

CINNAMINSON - Seamus Cullen played with a toy truck, making it zoom around on the wet ground, just a few feet away from a newly planted tree and a plaque unveiled Tuesday morning at the Cinnaminson post office in memory of his father, New Jersey State Trooper Sean Cullen.

The 2-year-old attended the dedication with his mother, Aryn McCormick, and 10-month-old brother, Conor, to witness the event in honor of their loved one, who was killed in the line of duty.

Cullen, 31, was fatally struck by a vehicle in March 2016 after responding to a car fire on Interstate 295 in West Deptford.

A graduate of Cinnaminson High School and a native of the town, Cullen was a beloved figure throughout South Jersey.

“The accident’s been over a year and it’s nice that people are still remembering Sean and doing dedications,” said McCormick, who was Cullen’s fiancée. “... I look forward to showing the boys, coming up to the post office and showing them the tree that’s for their dad in hopes that they realize how special he was other than me telling them.”

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Friends and family gathered during a tree dedication ceremony at the Cinnaminson Post Office for NJ State Trooper Sean Cullen, who was fatally injured in March of 2016 after being struck by a vehicle. Cullen graduated from Cinnaminson High School.(Photo: Jose F. Moreno/Staff Photographer)

Cullen’s parents, Deirdre and Eamonn, stood side by side, often wiping away tears as different people spoke about their son. His uncle David Cullen, a postal worker for the Cinnaminson post office, stood nearby as well.

“This is absolutely beautiful,” Deirdre Cullen said with a strong Irish accent, like her husband and brother-in-law. “We weren’t expecting anything like this. It’s been a year, a year and a half and they came up with this idea. I just thought it was a beautiful gesture. It just means so much to us.”

Eamonn held Seamus when he spoke at the podium. The little boy, like many in the crowd, wore a blue T-shirt with a flag on the front and the words “In Honor of New Jersey State Trooper Sean E. Cullen” with the state police emblem on the back.

“I just want to thank everybody from every department, every police department. ... everybody that’s here,” Eamonn said. “Thank you very much for the outpouring of support that we’ve had. People from Cinnaminson have been fantastic. The people of the state and the people of this country have been great to us.

“Thank you very much for everything. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

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A plaque in honor of late Trooper Sean Cullen is shown during a tree dedication ceremony at the Cinnaminson Post Office for NJ State Trooper Sean Cullen, who was fatally injured in March of 2016 when he was struck by a vehicle at the scene of a car fire on Interstate 295.(Photo: Jose F. Moreno/Staff Photographer)

His son was a wrestling standout at Cinnaminson High School. As a senior, he participated in the state police’s youth training program.

After attending Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, where he also was a standout wrestler, Cullen worked as a police officer in Sea Isle City and Mount Holly. He served as a patrolman in Westampton for several years before graduating from the state police training academy in 2014 and being stationed at the Bellmawr barracks.

“We’re here to simply commemorate and celebrate the life of a fallen brother,” Westampton Mayor C. Andre Daniels said. “A brother who in fact would give it all in a moment’s notice, and if he had an opportunity to give it again, would give it all again. That was who Sean Cullen was. He was emblematic of what it is to be a noble public servant. I would even go as far as to say simply, a hero.”

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New Jersey State Troopers salute the flag during a tree dedication ceremony at the Cinnaminson Post Office for NJ State Trooper Sean Cullen, who was fatally injured in March of 2016 when he was struck by a vehicle at the scene of a car fire on Interstate 295. Cullen graduated from Cinnaminson High School.(Photo: Jose F. Moreno/Staff Photographer)

A crowd of 100 gathered in front of the post office by the crepe myrtle tree for the 30-minute ceremony, including postal workers and members of the state police and Westampton Police Department. It ended with a bagpipe selection of “Amazing Grace.”

The honor was Postmaster Tina Horner's idea, David Cullen said.

“She came up with it," he said. "I was kind of taken back a step. She didn’t have to do it. She’s been phenomenal. It’s a great honor that she’s done this and I thank her.”

Horner called the trooper a “hero”.

“I believe it is my duty as a postmaster to open those doors and to show how much we respect and appreciate everyone who does service for our country, our state and our town,” she said.

Celeste E. Whittaker; (856) 486-2437; cwhittaker@gannettnj.com

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New Jersey State Trooper Sean Cullen of Cinnaminson was killed in a line-of-duty crash in 2016. His hometown post office held a ceremony to honor him with a special memorial.